Verbena plant named `Florena`

ABSTRACT

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by its large Neon-rose flower, early flowering, and a semi-erect habit that becomes spreading as plant develops.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagatedfrom cuttings resulting from the cross of W720 and T593. W720 is a Roseflowering Verbena having a spreading habit. W720 is not commerciallyavailable and is not known by any synonyms. T593 is a Scarlet floweringVerbena having a semierect habit. T593 is not commercially available andis not known by any synonyms. Neither W720 or T593 has been patented. Asa result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1995 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two yearperiod. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on plants that were18 weeks old, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Colorreadings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawings which show blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 depicts the spreading and hanging habit of the mature plant,while FIG. 2 provides a more detailed depiction of the blooms andfoliage.

The Plant

Classification:

Botanical.--Verbena×hybrida.

Parentage:

Female parent.--A seedling named W720 is one of our seedlings from ourW-generation of plants bred in 1994.

Pollen parent.--A seedling named T593 is one of our seedlings from ourT-generation of plants bred in 1991.

Growth habit: Semi-erect, later spreading.

Plant height: 20-30 cm.

Spreading area of plant: 50-70 cm.

Strength: Good.

Branching character: After pinching 7-9 breaks occur.

Blooming period: From April until November.

The Stem

Diameter: 1.5-2 mm.

Cross section: Tetragonal.

Anthocyan pigmentation: Absent.

Length of internode: 20-45 mm, depending on the light where the plant isgrown.

Pubescence: Pubescence is present.

The Foliage

Phyllotaxis: Opposite.

Shape of blade: Cleft to parted.

Length: 25-40 mm.

Width: 20-32 mm.

Depth of incision: 10-20 mm.

Number of incisions per leaf: Many: more than 5.

Color:

Upper side.--Medium green 141B.

Lower side.--Light green 138A.

Pubescence: Some pubescence is present on both sides of the leaf.

Length of petiole: 10-15 mm.

Color of petiole: Medium green 141B.

The Bud

Peduncle length: 30-50 mm, depending on season.

Size:

Diameter.--2 mm.

Length.--8-12 mm.

Shape: Long.

Color: Medium green 141A.

Sepals:

Color.--Green 137D.

Form.--Upright.

The Flower

Direction: Ascending.

Diameter: 18-20 mm.

Height: 16-18 mm.

Borne: In a cluster.

Form: Flat and symmetrical.

Cluster: Corymb.

Color:

Upper surface.--Neon-rose 52A, later 52B.

Lower surface.--Pink 63B, later 63C.

Eye: A very small (2 mm) pink-white eye (159D) is present.

Margins: A small pink-white stripe (63C) on the lower petals.

Overlapping of petals: Separate.

Corymb:

Length.--20-40 mm.

Diameter.--40-50 mm.

Calyx: Length of 10-12 mm.

Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent.

No. of flowers per corymb: 20-30.

Flowers in bloom at one time 16-18.

Duration of flowering:

Flower.--3-5 days.

Inflorescence.--10-12 days.

Fragrance: A very soft rosy-sweet fragrance.

Reproductive organs: 1 pistil, 5 stamens. Seeds are formed in a very lowfrequency.

Physiological and ecological characteristics: Strong resistance to pestsand diseases, particularly powdery mildew.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantiallyas herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as tonovelty by large neon-rose blooms, early flowering, and a growing habitthat is first semi-erect but later spreading and hanging.